Rotary engine



mmhE 2 192s. 1,574,976

W. M. ING RAM RGTARY ENGINE Filedrsept. 29, 1920 4 sheetssheet l vmmh 2,1926. 1,574,976

" W. M. INGRAM ROTARY ENGINE Filed Sept. 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wogm Q5@ l v1,574,976 INGRAM ROTARY ENGINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 2 1926.

Filed Sept. 29, 1920 MT ES March 2 1926.` ,574,976

w. M. INGRAM Filed Sept. 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar, 2, i926c UNITED ATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE;

Application filed September 29, 1920. Serial No. 413,659.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER M. INGRAM,

a citizen of the United States of. America,`

or internal combustion engine, or when.

driven externally` as a pump for liquids, air or gases.

It consists of a piston member' comprising one or more pistons radiating from a center about which the piston member, which is single rigid structure, rotates, and a corresponding number of expansion chambers referred to herein for convenience as cylinders.

The cylinders re carried by an eccentricV member which rotates about a center eccentxically placed as to the rotation of t-he piston member, which latter rotates about a fixed Center as aforesaid; and the cylinders rock or oscillate relatively. to the eccentric member by which they are carried'. and reciprocate radially but have no other motion f relatively to the piston member with which they rotate. The thrust which produces rotation is .exertedbetween the eccentric member and the piston member and the eccentricity corresponds to the throw of the crank in an ordinary reciprocating engine, but none of the parts reciprocate relatively to the earth. All the moving parts have a continuous rotary motion, V.the reciprocation being purely relative due to the eccentricity of the two paths of rotation.

The intake and exhaust, or suction and delivery, if the device be used as a pump, are passed through pipes which are concentric with the axis of the rotary piston member. To this end', the pistons each have a passage, in the general direction ofthe .axis which registers at suitable intervals with corresponding ports or passages in-a cent-ral member, the ports being connected to the main intake and exhaust passages extending along the line of the .axis of rotation, as aforesaid.

In the preferred form, as shown, the cylinders and pistons are in sets or pairs, side by side, and the cylinders of each pair are connected by a passage-way near the head; lVith this arrangement, the intake leads to the cylinders on one side,.i. e., to one cylinder of each pair and the exhaust leads from the cylinders on the other side, i. e;, frointhe otherv cylinder of each pair.` lIn this way, the cylinders are more completely emptied after each expulsion stroke and give more efficient operation in allinstances, particularly when the device is utilized as an internal combustion engine.

In the accompanying drawing, IVr have illustrated a lmachine embodyingV the various features of my invention in the preferred forni, in whichd Figure l is an end elevation, i. e., looking at the engine in the direction of the axis of rotation'.

Figure 2 is section atright angles to the axis of rotation taken on a plane parallel to Figure v1 and on the center line ofy one set of cylinders and pistons, the plane ofthe section being indicated by 2 2 in Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a section on a vertical plane through the axis of rotation of the pistons and drive shaft.

Figure Y-i and Figure 5 illustrate a device for changing the timing of the valves, Figure e being a fragmentary elevation looking from the left in Figure 3, and 5, being a section on line 5 5 or 5-5"`in Figure 1i.

Refer-ring tothe drawings by numerals:

The apparatus consists of a rotary piston member, l', having' suitable bearings, 2, in a frame, 8, and a rotary cylinder member, including the cylinders, and the carrier, the carrier and cylinders being mounted on bearings, G, for rotation about but in an eccentric relation to the shaft, 7, of the piston member, the eccentricity of the carrier, i. e., the distance between the center, of the bearings 2 and G, constituting in fact the throw of the crank or the crank radius of the engine or pump.

More particularly, the piston member, 1, consists of a hollow shaft, 7, and valve chest, 8, the latter being in the nature of a. hollow hub from which the pistons, 9, radiate, being secured at their inner ends to the walls of the valve chest, the pistons being rigid, with the hub, form with the valve chest a single integral piston member. As shown, the external surface of the valve chest, 8, has flat surfaces or sides, 1G, at equal angles, corresponding in number to the number of cylinders, though preferably, the cylinders and pistons are in pairs, so that there are two cylinders and two pistons or a set of pistons and cylinders to each side of the valve chest.

As shown, the hollow shaft, 7, is in two sections, one on each side of the engine and hence on each side of the valve chest and the valve chest has its ends formed of i'ianges, 11, on the corresponding ends of eac-h hollow shaft section, 7.

The hollow shaft, 7, as hereinafter described, rotates with the piston member, being in fact the crank shaft. Vithin this hollow shaft is a separate tube or shaft, 13, 14, at each side, each terminating within the valve chamber in a manifold, 15, 16, consisting of a circular disk, or cylinder having its axis in alignment with the axis of rotai tion of the shaft, 7, and being provided with fan-shaped manifold passages, 17. see Figure 2, radiating from the tubes or hollow shafts or shaft sections or pipes, 13, 14, the pipe 13, with the radiating passages, 17. of the manifold, 15, forming` the-intake pipe and manifold and the pipe, 14, with the radiating passages, 17 of the manifold disk, 15, forming the exhaust or delivery pipe and manifold.

The cylinder castings shown in sets or pairs, 20, are provided each with journals, 21, projecting from each side, the journals being at or slightly below the center, i. e., nearer the crank. These `iournals are provided with rollers, 22, which, as shown, run in a circular slot or way, 23, in the cylinder carrier, 5, concentric with the axis of the cylinder carrier', as distinguished from the axis of the rotation of the shaft, 7. However, the rollers, 22, in the preferred operation have but a slight arcuate motion in the slot, 23, and do not travel throughout the circumference of the slot; instead, the rotary motion of the carrier takes place in the preferred form upon bearings, 6. The bearings, 2 and 6, as shown, are preferably ball bearings to give freedom of rotation.v

Preferably, the pistons and cylinders are arranged in pairs and the cylinders, as shown, are cast in twos and to provide for convenience in exhausting or clearing the cylinders, the cylinders of each pair are connected by a passage, 24, near the head and the pistons each are provided with a passage-way, 25, 26, extending from the head or top surface of the piston, 27, to and through the inside of the wall of the valve chest, at 28. rlhe cylinder castings, as shown, are provided4 with webs or fins, 30, for cooling, which is desirable when the device is utilized as an internal combustion engine, or a pump.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5; l have illustrated a device for changing the valve timing so as to accomplish reversal of the direction of rotation or for any other pur-- pose. ln the forni shown, this consists of a hand lever, 32, terminating in a collar, 33, which encircles the stationary hollow shaft or pipe, permitting it to be rota-ted through a pre-determined angle which in the present instance amounts to 180o though this may be varied without departure from the invention, changing the position of the ports and consequently the time at which the ports and passages, 25, 26, are brought into registration, accomplishing immediate or instantaneous reversal of the operation 'of the motor. By reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that the collar, 33, is held in position by a set screw, 34, permitting the position of' the shaft relatively to the collar to be varied at will and providing for adjustment of the valve timing.

In Figure G, I have shown a latch, 39, with a spring, 40, for holding the timing` lever, 32, in position.

In the operation of the mechanism, the hollow shaft or pipe, 3, acts as an intake, 14, as the exhaust. The disk, 15, with its passages, 17, terminating in peripheral ports, 18, being brought in registration successively with the passages, 25, in the pisy tons, 9, due to the relative rotation supplying steam or air or other fluid under pressure or combustible gas to the cylinders, 20, onthe intake or left side of Figure 3 in turn. The fluid passes from each cylinder, 30, through the passage, 24, at the head to the corresponding cylinder, 31, of the same pair or set. Exhaust takes place by way of the pipe or hollow shaft, 14, terminating in the disk or manifold, 16, having exhaust passages, 17, and ports, 18, which register with the piston passages, 26, in the set of cylinders, 31, on the exhaust or right hand side of Figure 3, it being' understood that the number yof cylinders making up the sets of cylinders, 20, is inmiaterial, except in so far as it lends to the convenience and efficiency of the intake and exhaust. During the exhaust stroke, the actuating fluid passes from both cylinders of the set, the cylinders, 30, being emptied by way of the passages, 24, leading to cylinders, 31, the ports, 18, of which are brought into registration with the respective passages, 26, in the diderent pistons, 27, in turn as the piston member with the cylinder member rotates relatively to the exhaust pipe, 14, and manifold, 1G, the valve operation being similili) lar to thatl whichtales' place in connection* with the intake but? timed to open eaclrcyl indel-l to the exhaust *during1 its exhaust* stroke.

Relative reciprocationbetween the pistons and cylinders* due-to the'fluidl pressuiethus set up in the respective cylinders in turn combined witlithe eccentricity of the bear ings, (i, relatively to the bearings, 2, produces rotation of both the piston and cylindermembers or otherwise the reciprocating action between the pistons and cylinders is translated into a rotary action by the eccentricity of the bearings of the cylinder carrier relatively to those of the piston member. During this operation, as the piston member rotates about the bearings, 2, and the cylinder carrier with the cylinders rotates about the bearings, (i, the cylinders or sets of cylinders, 20, also swing on their journals, 21, and rollers, 22, travel in the slots, 23, in the carrier, in order that the cylinders may reciprocate relatively to and at the same time conform to the rotation of the piston member, about its axis. In thus rotating, the cylinder members, 20, travel relatively to the carrier, 3, i. e., the rollers, 22, move back and forth in the slot, 23, through a very slight arc. In this connec: tion, it is importantto note that this is no actual reciprocating action, all the parts being in continuous rotation about the two centers. In this way, the vibration and the loss of power due to the momentum of the reciprocating parts of the ordinary reciprocating engine are eliminated; also the resulting wear on wristpins, crossheads and cranks is reduced or eliminated, the effect as to these points being practically that of a turbine retaining the advantages as to the cylinder and piston action of a reciprocating engine.

I have thus described a rotary engine or pump embodying the principles of my invention specifically and in detail in order that the nature of my invention and the manner of applying it, may be clearly understood; however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a. limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rotary engine or pump including a rotating rigid piston member having a plurality of pistons rigidly connected to each other radiating from the axis of rotation and a suitable bearing therefor, a cylinder co-operating with each piston to reciprocate relatively thereto and a cylinder carrier and pivotal means supporting each said cylinder on said carrier, and a rotary bearing for said carrier, the carrier rotating about an axis eccentric as to the axis of the piston member.

2. A rotary engine or pump including a rotating rigidi 'pistonf member having a plu'- rali-ty of pistons rigidly connectedlto eachy other radiating frointhe axisof rotation, acylinder co-operating with each= piston to reciprocate relatively thereto, a singlecarrier on which all said cylinders are mounted, saidcarrier rotating about anaxis eccentric as totlie axisof the pistonf member, each said cylinder being mounted to oscillate relatively to the carrier.

3. A rotary engine or pump including a rotating rigid piston member having pistons radiating from the axis of rotation, a cylinder co-operating with each piston to reciprocate relatively thereto, a rot-ary cylinder carrier on which said cylinders are mounted, and a bearing for the carrier eccentric as to the axis of the piston member, each said cylinder being mounted to swing relatively to the carrier in the plane of rotation and to moving back and forth relatively to the carrier on an arc concentric With the axis of rotation of the carrier.

Il. In a rotary fluid pressure motor or pump, a rotary rigid piston member having pistons radiating from the axis of rotation, the pistons having passages connecting the radial ends, the piston member having a .hollow shaft and a hollow hub, the shaft containing a passa-ge for the motive fluid, a manifold in the hub in which the passage terminates, the manifold 4having peripheral ports which are caused to register in turn with the passages in the pistons as the piston member rotates, the motor also including a cylinder cooperating with each piston, said pistons being rigidly connected t0 each other and means for constraining the cylinders to move on a path eccentric as to the center of rotation of the pistons. v n

5. In a rotary fluid pressure motor or pump, a rotary rigid piston member having pistons radiating from the axis of rotatio-n, the pistons having passagesyconnecting t-he radial ends, the piston member having a hollow shaft and a hollow hub, the shaft containing a passage for the motive fluid terminating in' a manifold in the hub, having yperipheral ports which register in turn with the passages in the pis tons as the piston member rotates, the mof tor also including a cylinder co-operating with each piston and means for constraining the cylinders to move on a path eccentric as to the center of rotation of the pistons, the cylinders and pistons being arranged in sets side by side in planes including the axis, and each set having a passage connecting them adjacent the heads.

6. In a rotary fiuid pressure motor or pump, a rotary rigid piston member having pistons radiating from the axis of rotation, the pistons having passages connecting the radial ends, the piston member having a hollow shaft and a hollow hub, the shaft containing a passage for the motive fluid tei'- minatng in a manifold in the hub, having peripheral ports which register in turn with the passages in the pistons as the piston member rotates, the motor also including a cylinder (5o-operating with each piston and means for constraining the cylinders to move on a path eccentric as to the center ot' rotation of the pistons, the cylinders being in integral sets, each set having a passage con- 10 necting the cylinders of the set adjacent the heads.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this 28th day of September, 1920.

WALTER M. INGRAM. 

